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All Preachers Want Is My Money

There’s an old saying that I have heard far too many times growing up in the Church regarding pastors, “We’ll keep him poor, and God will keep him humble.”

Even before I became a pastor myself, I found this to be very cruel andoffensive. It never sounded spiritual to me at all. Mainly because it’s not even close to biblical, and shows ones utter lack of care and respect for those who lead us. Yet it voices a false spirituality and line of thought that is still strong in many church circles today.

The truth is our attitude regarding money, whether the abundance of or lack of it, has a way of revealing where our trust truly lies. Money tends to be the area that Christians struggle the most to step out in faith in; both in our household finances and in our churches. Faith needs to go both ways. Living by faith is not just for Pastors, it’s for churches too. If a pastor steps out in faith to lead a church, then that church needs to step out in faith to care for them prayerfully and financially.

I really believe God wants his Church to mature in this. I know He has been challenging my wife and I a lot in this area of giving as of late, and we desire to grow in it for the sake of furthering the work of His Kingdom in the earth.

The kingdom key to putting actions to our faith can be found here in the words of Jesus in Luke 6:38, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. The measure you use, will be measured back to you to give again.” Paraphrased: What would you like in your life? Then give it.

The following is actually what the Bible says about how we should treat our Pastors:

1 Corinthians 9:14
“The Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should earn their living by the gospel.”

1 Timothy 5:17-18
The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle the oxen while he is threshing,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”

Now many like to note that Paul chose not to use this right, however he was the strongest defender of the right to use it. He even clearly states that it IS God’s ordained method of provision for those ministering.

Are there frauds out there who abuse this? Yes. Should we then hold back from supporting those who rightly lead us to somehow punish the frauds? No.